Tool for controlling rotation of a bottom hole assembly with respect to a drillstring

Abstract

A tool for controlling rotation of a bottom hole assembly with respect to a drillstring has a mandrell with a longitudinal groove and a circumferential groove extending therearound and in communication with the longitudinal groove, a locking element extending around and over at least a portion of the grooves, and an actuator cooperative with the locking element for selectively moving the locking element such that locking member extending from the locking element engages either the longitudinal groove ro the circumferential groove relative to a fluid pressure in the drillstring.

1. A tool for controlling rotation of a bottom hole assembly with respect to a drillstring comprising:
 a mandrell having at least one longitudinal groove formed on an outer diameter thereof, said mandrell having a circumferential groove extending therearound and in communication with the longitudinal groove; 
 a locking element extending around and over at least a portion of the longitudinal groove and over said circumferential groove, said locking element having a locking element with a size suitable for being received within the longitudinal groove and said circumferential groove; and 
 an actuator means cooperative with said locking element for selectively moving said locking member between one of the longitudinal groove and said circumferential groove relative to a fluid pressure in the drillstring. 
 
   
   
     2. The tool of  claim 1 , the longitudinal groove of said mandrell having a first portion extending on one side of said circumferential groove and a second portion extending on an opposite side of said circumferential groove. 
   
   
     3. The tool of  claim 2 , said first portion being longitudinally aligned with said second portion. 
   
   
     4. The tool of  claim 1 , the longitudinal groove comprising a plurality of longitudinal groove extending around said mandrell and evenly radially spaced therearound, said circumferential groove communicating with said each of the longitudinal grooves of said plurality of longitudinal grooves. 
   
   
     5. The tool of  claim 1 , said locking element comprising:
 a cage surrounding said mandrell, said cage having said locking member extending inwardly therefrom, said cage movable by said actuator means such that said locking member is positioned in one of the longitudinal groove and the circumferential groove. 
 
   
   
     6. The tool of  claim 5 , said locking member comprising a plurality of pins arranged so as to be received in the longitudinal groove. 
   
   
     7. The tool of  claim 5 , said locking member comprising a plurality of spherical members arranged so as to have at least a portion thereof received in the longitudinal groove. 
   
   
     8. The tool of  claim 1 , said actuator means comprising:
 a cam cooperative with said locking element, said cam having a slot pattern formed therein; 
 a piston engaging said cam so as to axially move said cam in response to a fluid pressure in the drilling string; and 
 a pin engaging said slot pattern so as to define a position of said locking member with respect to the longitudinal groove and said circumferential groove. 
 
   
   
     9. The tool of  claim 8 , said slot pattern of said cam extending circumferentially around said cam, said slot pattern sequentially defining a first position in which said locking member engages the longitudinal groove on one side of said circumferential groove and a second position in which said locking member freely moves in said circumferential groove. 
   
   
     10. The tool of  claim 9 , said slot pattern further defining a third position in which said locking member engages the longitudinal groove on an opposite side of circumferential groove. 
   
   
     11. The tool of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a spring cooperative with said cage on an opposite side said actuator means, said spring exerting a force upon said cage opposite a force exerted by said actuator means upon said cage. 
 
   
   
     12. The tool of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a collar surrounding said mandrell and said locking element and said cage; 
 a first rotary connection interconnected to said mandrell; and 
 a second rotary connection interconnected to said collar, said first rotary connection being selectively rotatable with respect to said second rotary connection relative to a position of said locking member in either the longitudinal groove or said circumferential groove. 
 
   
   
     13. A method of controlling rotation of a bottom hole assembly with respect to a drillstring comprising:
 affixing a tool between the bottom hole assembly and the drillstring, said tool having a first tubular segment having a longitudinal groove and circumferential groove in communication therewith and a second tubular segment with a locking element, said locking element received in the longitudinal groove; and 
 fluidically pressurizing an interior of said tool so as to move said locking element into said circumferential groove. 
 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 forming said tool so as to have a mandrell, said mandrell having a plurality of longitudinal grooves thereon, said plurality of longitudinal grooves having a first position extending on one side of said circumferential groove and a second position extending on an opposite side of said circumferential groove; 
 positioning a locking element over said mandrell, said locking element having a locking member engaging at least one of said plurality of longitudinal grooves; and 
 arranging a cam adjacent to an end of said locking element such that a movement of said cam correspondingly moves said locking element. 
 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 14 , said step of fluidically pressurizing comprising:
 applying fluid pressure through said drillstring such that said cam urges said locking element such that said locking member enters said circumferential groove: and 
 rotating said bottom hole assembly independently of said drillstring. 
 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 reducing fluid pressure passing through said interior of said tool such that said locking member moves into the longitudinal groove on an opposite side of said circumferential groove; and 
 rotating said drillstring in correspondence with a rotation of said bottom hole assembly. 
 
   
   
     17. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 increasing fluid pressure passing through said interior of said tool such that said locking member moves into said longitudinal groove from said circumferential groove; and 
 rotating said drillstring in correspondence with a rotation of said bottom hole assembly. 
 
   
   
     18. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 forming said cam so as to have a slot pattern formed therein and extending therearound; 
 extending a pin into said slot pattern; and 
 moving said cam such that said pin follows a desired pattern through said slot pattern. 
 
   
   
     19. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 affixing a mandrell to the drillstring, said mandrell having the longitudinal groove and said circumferential groove thereon, said mandrell being said first tubular segment; 
 positioning a collar over said mandrell, said collar having said locking element extending interiorly therefrom; and 
 interconnecting said collar to the bottom hole assembly. 
 
   
   
     20. The method of  claim 19 , said second tubular segment being a cage slidably positioned over the longitudinal groove and said circumferential groove of said mandrell, said locking element extending through an opening in said cage so as to engage one of said grooves, said cage being said second tubular segment.